The very busy Shawn Levy is adding another project to his development docket, though this time it’s only in a producing capacity. FilmNation Entertainment announced today that it would finance and produce the sci-fi thriller Story of Your Life alongside Lava Bear Films, with Levy producing the pic via his 21 Laps banner with partner Dan Levine. Written by Eric Heisserer (The Thing), the film is based on a short story by Ted Chiang that takes place immediately after aliens land around the globe and centers on a linguist who is recruited by the US government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth.

Commercials director Nic Mathieu is set to direct, and the pic is being fast-tracked with casting beginning immediately for a planned 2013 production start-date. Levy most recently wrapped his latest directorial project, the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn comedy The Internship, and earlier this month signed on to helm the ensemble dramedy adaptation This Is Where I Leave You. Hit the jump to read the full press release concerning Story of Your Life.

Here’s the full press release:

Los Angeles, CA – November 27, 2012 – FilmNation Entertainment, in partnership with Lava Bear Films, will finance, produce and handle worldwide sales for the sci-fi thriller STORY OF YOUR LIFE written by Eric Heisserer (Hours, The Thing, A Nightmare on Elm Street) and to be directed by prolific commercial director, Nic Mathieu. The film will be produced by 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy and Dan Levine with FilmNation’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Lava Bear’s David Linde, Tory Metzger, FilmNation’s Glen Basner and Eric Heisserer will executive produce. STORY OF YOUR LIFE was developed by 21 Laps’ Levy, Levine and Dan Cohen, along with Eric Heisserer.

STORY OF YOUR LIFE – based on an award-winning short story from one of today’s most celebrated science fiction writers Ted Chiang – is a mind-bending science fiction thriller with a powerful, emotional twist. After aliens land around the globe, a linguist is recruited by the US government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth.

The project is being fast-tracked with casting to commence immediately and a view to start lensing in 2013.

FilmNation’s Aaron Ryder commented, “When you look at Ted Chiang’s powerful source material, how deftly Eric and the team at 21 Laps handled the adaptation, and what Nic’s vision brings to the film, it’s no surprise that there’s been so much competitive interest. We’re looking forward to working with Shawn and Dan and couldn’t wish for better partners than Lava Bear”.

Lava Bear’s David Linde added, “This is an incredibly dynamic and contemporary script. There is nothing else like it. We couldn’t be more pleased to be working with such a wonderful creative team, as well as our friends at FilmNation”.

21 Laps said, “From the moment we first read Ted Chiang’s incredible short story to when we read Eric Heisserer’s powerful script and heard director Nic Mathieu’s vision for the movie, this has been a passion project of ours and we couldn’t be more excited to share the rest of this journey with FilmNation and Lava Bear”.

The project was brought in to FilmNation by Patrick Chu. The deal was brokered on behalf of Lava Bear by David Boyle and on behalf of FilmNation by Alison Cohen. Eric Heisserer is repped by UTA. WME reps 21 Laps and Nic Mathieu.

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